THE previous owners of the Lord Raglan pub have said that they were made an offer by campaigners- but the sum wasn’t reasonable and was just under half of the property's value.

The listed pub in Nangreaves is currently owned by City View Estates, which plans to turn it into apartments.

Campaigners are currently exploring options to allow the pub to continue as a public amenity for the community.

They recently announced their intentions to keep fighting plans following a renewed planning application.

However, Sharon Leyden, speaking on behalf of the family and the pub’s previous owner, said that the offer from campaigners, in January 2018, was nearly half of the market’s property value.

The Leyden family added that the property had been on the market for around three years prior to being sold, giving interested parties ample opportunity to secure funding for a reasonable offer.

The Lord Raglan pub was a family home and business ,which served the community for nearly 60 years was owned by the family.

It was put up for sale in January 2017 but after little interest, Terry Leyden, Sharon's brother-in-law, called time and retired in October.

Mrs Leyden added: “Because of the ACV (asset of community value) process, Terry was forced to live in an increasingly dilapidated, damp, cold building- not to mention also under great stress, until December 2019.

“Just how long did the residents expect him to wait? Would they accept half the asking price of their homes? Thankfully we received an acceptable offer and we sold so that he could move on.”

Sharon and Philip said that Terry never got to enjoy his retirement living in his cottage, as he died in April, two days before he was due to move in.

She added: “He had served the community for most of his life and he was so looking forward to the next chapter in his life - ‘going to bed the same day he got up’. He so richly deserved that and we as his family will forever miss him.”

City View Estates is now planning to turn the pub into accommodation, along with six terraced houses nearby.

The Leydens say they have said that their proposal would “enhance the character and quality” of the surrounding environment, as well as being "complimentary to the Mount Pleasant village" - something which campaigners have disputed.